BERLIN -- South Africa's track and field federation had been asked to conduct a gender test on an 800-meter runner amid concerns she does not meet the requirements to compete as a woman.
Caster Semenya, 18, is a favorite in Wednesday's 800 final at the world championships.
The world track and field federation requested the gender test about three weeks ago, after Semenya burst onto the scene by improving her personal bests in the 800 and 1,500 by huge margins.
IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said the "extremely complex, difficult" test has been started but that the results were not expected for weeks.
The verification requires a physical medical evaluation, and includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, an internal medicine specialist and an expert on gender.
"So we're talking about reports that are very long, very time consuming," Davies said.
Semenya qualified for Wednesday's final with the best time of 1 minute, 58.64 seconds. She posted the world's top time this year of 1:56.72 three weeks ago at the African junior championships in Bambous, Mauritius.
It was not clear what would happen if Semenya were to medal in Wednesday's final and the test results determined she does not meet the requirements to compete.
"I can't say that if 'X' happens in the future that we will, for example, retroactively strip results. It's legally very complex," Davies said.
"If there's a problem and it turns out that there's been a fraud ... that someone has changed sex, then obviously it would be much easier to strip results," Davies added. "However, if it's a natural thing and the athlete has always thought she's a woman or been a woman, it's not exactly cheating."
He said a decision in such instances is "done on a case by case basis."
"It's something that would have to be considered by the legal experts at that time," Davies said.
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Ummm those shorts are skin tight and I don't see no man parts....
I'm not accusing her of anything, but I wonder how many would undergo a sex change to win a gold medal...
Forum Moderator
Wasn't this the plot of an episode of King of the Hill?
Hank (the main character) needs to have his gender verified, goes to his doctor and asks "Well, can't you just...you know....check?". The doctor replies, "I'm afraid it's not that simple..."
Considering the above, I guess it really isn't that simple....
Goozex Forum Moderator
Hermaphrodites ftw...literally! Man that would suck to always think you were a girl, and then find out in front of the entire world that you're not...at age 18.
I consider myself an expert on gender...who isn't with the internet these days?!
However, I can definitely see where their concerns stem from.
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GreenManGaming
Talk about a blow to your self esteem...
Years ago I worked in a lab where we had to "sex" mouse pups. Error rate was about 2%. Some of those pups had big ass balls and it was a no brainer, other times you'd flip a coin.
But...that chick ain't got no man parts! It's a girl baby!
....gives new meaning to the phrase 'tuck & run'.